¹⁶ and might reconcile both to God in one body^[a] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.^{[b](A) 17} So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,

¹⁸ so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.^(A)

²⁰ and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.^(A)

²¹ And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,^[a] not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.^{(A) 20} So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.^{(B) 21} For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(C)

¹⁸ I will make for you^[a] a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground, and I will abolish^[b] the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you^[c] lie down in safety.^{(A) 19} And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.^{(B) 20} I will take you for my wife in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.^(C)

²⁵ I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely.^{(A) 26} I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.^(B)